We recently hired a highly capable executive who is incredibly vocal in one-on-one sessions but completely shuts down and stays silent during our leadership Level 10 Meeting. How do we accelerate their integration and get them to actively contribute to solving cross-functional issues during the weekly pulse?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

A new executive who is quiet in the Level 10 Meeting™ is often overthinking their role, trying to avoid stepping on toes, or processing the new team dynamics. However, silence is a form of passive resistance that you cannot afford on a leadership team running on EOS®.

To accelerate their integration, the Integrator must actively pull them into the conversation during the IDS® portion. Do not wait for them to volunteer. Instead, ask direct, open-ended questions that leverage their unique expertise. For example, ask them how their department is impacted by the issue under discussion, or what solutions they have seen work in past organizations.

You must also ensure your team is practicing healthy, unfiltered conflict. If the new leader feels that dissenting opinions are met with defensiveness, they will remain silent. Make it clear that they were hired to bring a fresh perspective and that their seat on the Accountability Chart requires active participation in every weekly pulse, not just passive observation.